A friend that moved to Japan wrote and said that before you can even buy a car there you need to demonstrate you own a place to park it.

So where can you park bikes legaly in Japan? I thought some peopke here had problems not being able to bring a bike into their apartment building but Japan looks worse!

Yes you must get a certificate from City Hall which states you have a parking space for your car before you buy it. There are exceptions for minicars though.

In Kyoto City, City Hall has started to instaul bike parking but you must pay 100 yen an hour to use most of them. You can find some which are free for the first two hours but they are rare. This one I use is free for the first two hours and then 150yen for 24 hours. Also, as ifold mentioned, many apartments do have bicycle parking for tenants.

Here's how my Miyata Alight looks like as of today. Picture taken after a heavy downpour.
Added a bottle holder and changed the front black carrier to a chromed tall carrier to hold a small basket. BP headlight was also added.

Confiscated bikes are being transferred to their office and the charges for redeeming your bike is around $30.

When I wanted to fix a bike I had on loan in Tokyo, paying $50+ for repairs (new tire+tube, lamp and general straightening and greasing), the lady in charge of the bike protested saying that with such money one could go ahead an buy a new one. Indeed department store bikes ran for $140+. I still went ahead with the repairs and the repair costs because I hate a bike that could ride many years go to waste and work deserves to be paid for. For most Japanese, though, a bike turns out to be a commodity not worthy of much fuss.

I do collect Japanese surplus bicycles and restore them as parts come-by. I sometimes buy a bicycle for particular parts I need. If ever my bicycle becomes ordinary meaning a lot is running around I do trade or sell them that's why most of my collection have rare frame design or geometry. I do customize some unbranded ones for as long I have parts and accessories lying around. Thanks for viewing.

My bike's light went kaput and is no longer serviceable. I am looking for a Tantamushi light assembly for my bike with internal gear hub- 6volts,2.4watts. Any suggestions or modifications you can recommend ? thanks and kind regards

My bike's light went kaput and is no longer serviceable. I am looking for a Tantamushi light assembly for my bike with internal gear hub- 6volts,2.4watts. Any suggestions or modifications you can recommend ? thanks and kind regards

chimmy ramos

You can simply change the internal dynamo hub which is available here. Would cost from 600 to 800 pesos plus an LED headlight for 1500 or the regular sensored headlight for 400 pesos.

Thanks Mang Boy, May I drop by one of these days ? I would like to get a replacement regular sensored headlight or LED unit. I think my internal dynamo hub is still ok.
kind regards to you and Mark, and looking forward to my Malabon visit .

chimmy

Originally Posted by Sancycles

You can simply change the internal dynamo hub which is available here. Would cost from 600 to 800 pesos plus an LED headlight for 1500 or the regular sensored headlight for 400 pesos.